Key play: Mike Santorelli swatted a rebound of a Shawn Horcoff shot into the net to propel the Ducks to a 4-1 victory Sunday over the Minnesota Wild at the Honda Center for their first victory after a 0-3-1 start to the season. Horcoff was so excited by the goal that he almost hugged the referee by mistake. Strange days and nights to start the season for the Ducks.

Pivotal performer: Center Rickard Rakell scored the first goal of the season by a Ducks forward when he deflected defenseman Hampus Lindholm’s perimeter shot into the back of Devan Dubnyk’s net for a 2-1 lead 16:01 into the first period.

Breaking the ice: The Ducks ended a scoreless streak of 173:12 when defenseman Cam Fowler scored 10:08 into the game. Fowler celebrated as if he had won a big playoff game with his perimeter shot from near the left point.

Quote, unquote: “When things aren’t going great for your team, sometimes you just need a little confidence boost to get you going in the right direction,” Fowler said. “Credit our guys for sticking with it. We were able to sneak some by him (Dubnyk).”

Injury update: Ducks defensemen Clayton Stoner (lower body) and Simon Despres (head) didn’t play because of injuries. Korbinian Holzer made his Ducks debut in place of Despres, who was hurt by an illegal check Friday by Colorado’s Tyson Barrie. The NHL suspended Barrie for three games.

Between the pipes: Anton Khudobin started in goal for the Ducks in place of Frederik Andersen. A team spokesman said Andersen was not ill or injured. Khudobin stopped 34 of 35 shots in his first win with the Ducks in his second appearance.

Up next: The Ducks start a five-game trip Thursday at Nashville.